Happy Atheist Forum

They are just around the corner, so it's worth discussing.

One needn't be right-wing biased to understand that it is very likely for Republicans to gain seats.

I'm guessing Republicans will gain 8 seats in the Senate and 40 seats in the House of Representatives, and even so, that won't make them even.

what's with all these quizes?

I love polls.  The more the merrier.

I think it's actually too early to predict the exact number of seats even though the midterms are just around the corner. People are notoriously uninvolved about off-season elections, and a lot of people are not especially engaged yet beyond the politically active, most of whom happen to be on the right atm. I voted for around a thirty seat pick-up though, as the republicans are much more on top of their messaging, and the democrats still not making the consequences of this election seem important enough to their base. I know its common wisdom to scratch one's head and say no one understands why the left is less motivated than the right--for that I have two words: Public Option. Caving on that, cuddling up with Wall Street and wasting months searching for a non-existent bipartisanship pretty much took the wind out of the sails of the democratic base. Appointing Elizabeth Warren and the president out on the stump every day may help, but it also may be too little too late. We'll see, I guess.

It's a bit frustrating. For some reason, a few years are all it takes for people to forget what the Republican House, Senate, and Presidency can do to our republic. I sincerely hope the nation decides against electing more Republicans as a knee-jerk reaction to the slow recovery. It seems ungrateful.

Quote from: "Will"It's a bit frustrating. For some reason, a few years are all it takes for people to forget what the Republican House, Senate, and Presidency can do to our republic. I sincerely hope the nation decides against electing more Republicans as a knee-jerk reaction to the slow recovery. It seems ungrateful.

Not to mention counterintuitive and counterproductive. I also have that hope, but when people are angry, they're easily manipulated.

I personally think the Republican swing to the Tea Party will significantly reduce the number of seats they'll pick up.  For all their loudness, TPers will alienate centrists of both parties.

Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"I personally think the Republican swing to the Tea Party will significantly reduce the number of seats they'll pick up.  For all their loudness, TPers will alienate centrists of both parties.

I agree.  I also agree with whoever said it was still a bit to soon to make any rock solid predictions.  Those Tea Party people are very frustrating to me, but they have spiced up politics a bit recently.  

Quote from: "pinkocommie"they have spiced up politics a bit recently.  

And people say primaries are always boring.

I'm glad, at least, that more people are getting involved, even if I disagree with them on some issues.

Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"I personally think the Republican swing to the Tea Party will significantly reduce the number of seats they'll pick up.  For all their loudness, TPers will alienate centrists of both parties.

word, I never thought of that way, but it's way true.

nobody likes the obnoxious hall monitor sitting at their lunch table.

Indeed. I am less worried now than I was a month or so ago before so many tebaggers won their primaries, now i'm a bit happier, I seriously doubt any of the teabagger candidates will get elected. They're good at fooling the majority of republicans but they didn't fool all of them and no one that is centrist or moderate republican(well maybe) that will vote for one. My logic tells me that teabaggers are ultimately killing the republican party and taking conservatism down with them.

I was watching the new season of Realtime with Bill Maher the other day and I heard an argument about the teaparty that i've heard a billion times before. That the people in it are truly angry and that their conviction is real. What I don't get is why that's repeated. No one is doubting if the idiots are actually angry or not, they're so easy to manipulate into anger it's not surprising. I'm sure America will wise up, I just hope it doesn't take us being stupid enough to elect a republican president into office again and hopefully we can get an administration that isn't afraid to be cowboys and pass what they need to pass. I wonder if Hilary had won the primary and became president (you know she would've won) where would we be right now, I hope she runs again come 2012, I think I prefer her over Obama.

What the teabaggers have forgotten is what the Boll Weevil Dems did to the Democrats in the late 60s early 70s, leading to years out of power.  The TBs are splitting the Republicans, and I'm celebrating with a late beer.

The Republicans will be in trouble only if the Democrats and independents actually vote.  Many intend to sit out the election and that will leave the energized teabaggers in control.

Quote from: "notself"The Republicans will be in trouble only if the Democrats and independents actually vote.  Many intend to sit out the election and that will leave the energized teabaggers in control.

I'm not so sure of that.  I think this will be one of the highest-turnout midterms in recent history.

If that is true, then there will be limited loss of seats to the Republicans.  If the turn out is low, hold on, it's going to be a bumpy ride for the next two years.

Indeed.  The situation is too up-in-the-air to get a good handle on things, but I'm of the opinion that enough Republicans will turn out -- and enough independants will be tired of Obama's policies -- that the Republicans will gain seats in both houses.  I don't think they will gain control of either one, but the Dems can say goodbye to 60 votes in the Senate for the rest of Obama's presidency, even if it is a two-termer.